More than 65.5 million voters go to polls The National Election Council (NEC)’s Office reported more than 65.5 million voters nationwide or 98.77 percent of the electorate went to the polls by 22:20 on May 22 to elect deputies to the 14th National Assembly (NA) and all-level People’s Councils for 2016-2021.   A polling station in Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh province. According to Nguyen Hanh Phuc, NA General Secretary and Chief of the NEC’s Office, most localities nationwide saw turnout of more than 90 percent. The central province of Thua Thien-Hue and the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai topped the list with 99.99 percent. They were followed by Hoa Binh, 99.98 percent; Quang Nam and Ben Tre, 99.97 percent; Lai Chau, 99.96 percent and Hau Giang, 99.95 percent. The election took place safely and ballot counting was supervised by voters and the press - a new part of the Law on Election of Deputies to the NA and all-level People’s Councils, Phuc said. Voting also ran smoothly at temporary detention centres, he said. Initial reviews by local election committees showed that the election was held within the guidelines of competent agencies and units. The new election law lengthened the duration of voting from 7am to no later than 9pm, making it more convenient for voters to cast their ballots, he said. Phuc hailed the initiative of localities such as the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang which mapped polling stations and Hanoi which sent biographies of all approved candidates to households ahead of the election. Voters can hope that “those who are elected to the National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils will do their utmost serving the country and people and will soundly perform their responsibilities as prescribed by the Constitution and law,” as said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. VNA